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Michigan’s climate plan likely to spur carbon markets

Michigan agriculture will play a part in the governor’s climate plan to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy director Liesl Clark tells Brownfield the newly announced Council on Climate Solutions will work to create structures such as a carbon market where farmland could be used to offset greenhouse gas emissions.

“We really do think this is an all of the above solutions, there are a lot of different components that are going to have to play into, ‘How does Michigan hit this goal?’”

Department of Natural Resources director Dan Eichinger says creating a carbon market would help to incentivize sequestering emissions.

“How we can make more efficient use of things like our forest resources?  There’s a really interesting and rich body of research that’s happening about certain agricultural practices that can help sequester and store carbon.”

Michigan Public Service Commission chair Dan Scripps tells Brownfield some of the utilities have already announced plans which include using ag lands as offsets.

“I think the agricultural sector is another source.  We don’t typically direct where the ultimate offsets would come from.”

In a call with media, state directors also pointed to increased electric vehicle usage, renewable energy sources, and other community partnerships that support the Michigan Healthy Climate Plan’s efforts to reduce emissions.